Sylvester Stallone

One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the 1970s through the early 1990s, actor-writer-director-producer Sylvester Stallone combined sheer physical brawn with a touch of vulnerability i...
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The two Hollywood stars 'won' the Have You Gone CRAZY Award for roles in Bollywood romantic comedy Kambakkht Ishq (Unfortunate Love).
They beat nominated home grown stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Priyanka Chopra and Nikhil Advani to land the dishonour, which was announced at a gala in New Delhi on Friday night (12Mar10).
Kambakkht Ishq was also named Worst Film.
Neither Stallone nor Richards were present at the gala - a fact that troubled leading Indian film experts.
Indo-American Leadership Confederation chairman Rajan Zed tells WENN, "Stallone and Richards should have attended the gala and showed courage, thus making it a learning experience. Being humble is highly honourable."
Meanwhile, Chandni Chowk to China was the event's big 'winner' claiming three Golden Kela Awards, including the Insensitivity Award.
The awards - Bollywood's version of the Golden Raspberry Awards - were launched in 2008.
Kela translates as 'banana' in Hindi.

The American stars appear together in Kambakkht Ishq (Unfortunate Love), alongside Superman Returns actor Brandon Routh and Bollywood regulars Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor.
But their performances have failed to wow Hindu movie critics and the 2009 romantic comedy has landed them dishonours for the Bollywood equivalent of the Razzies.
Stallone and Richards will compete for the Baawra ho gaya hai ke (Have you gone crazy?) category, while the movie itself, directed by Sabir Khan, is up for a total of eight awards, including Worst Film.
Meanwhile, Aussie singer/actress Kylie Minogue has been mauled for her performance of Chiggy Wiggy, which she sang in the movie Blue. The track, written by Abbas Tyrewala, has been named in the Most Atrocious Lyrics category.
The stars' nominations have prompted religious scholar Rajan Zed to call for movie executives to concentrate on producing "quality" films, instead of just attaching big names to the projects to pull in big bucks at the box office.
Zed, who is the president of Universal Society of Hinduism, says, "Both Hollywood and Bollywood should focus on quality rather than quantity. Quantity, mixed with mercantile greed, resulted in them ending up in Razzies and Golden Kelas."
The Golden Kelas (bananas) will be handed out in Delhi on 12 March (10).

Pellicano was found guilty of illegally recording the calls of stars including Sylvester Stallone in 2008 and was sentenced to 15 years behind bars.
But the FBI's investigation was hindered by Joann Wiggan, who was found guilty on two counts of perjury and one charge of making a false statement after she lied to officers about information she handed to her former colleague, Pellicano's accomplice Ray Turner, as they tried to build their case.
During a Los Angeles court appearance on Monday (22Feb10), U.S. District Judge Dale S. Fisher said she "engaged for years in the calculated obstruction and perversion of the court process".
Wiggan, 56, was handed a 41-month sentence and two years of supervised release, in addition to a $7,500 (£4,687.50) fine.
Turner was also convicted of wiretapping and conspiracy in 2008.

The action star had to undergo major surgery after he fractured his neck in an epic fight scene for new blockbuster The Expendables.
After Stallone came forward with the story, online gossips began speculating the actor had played up the extent of his injuries ahead of the movie's release.
But the 63 year old has proved he's telling the truth by releasing a set of X-rays, taken at California's Marina Spine Centre, which show a metal plate in his neck.
The pictures, released to fan site StalloneZone.com, were accompanied by a note from the star, which reads, "For the doubters and the haters, a picture is worth a thousand words. You walk the walk, you pay the price.
"As bad as it was, at least we have it on film. The reason I was never seen in a neck brace is because I stayed at home for three weeks to heal."

The action star, 63, has been dabbling in art in his spare time for 30 years and recently sold one of his works for a massive $50,000 (£31,250).
And Stallone admits he prefers life as a painter, because he can always control the end result.
He tells Britain's The Times newspaper, "Movies are a vision dependent upon three or four hundred people to accomplish it. So there's great compromising. And so much is lost in the translation. So when you get up there, it's maybe 40 per cent of the way you envisaged it. Because of the finance thing, and the actor doesn't interpret it properly. Or the director isn't on form that day and he missed the whole point.
"Whereas painting is all you do. It either soars or it crashes. There's no-one to blame but one person. I find that the more unhappy you are, the more confused you are, the better your art is. Happy art, it just doesn't seem to work for me."

Stallone, 63, who performed his own stunt work on the set of the movie, was left reeling in pain after one fight with wrestling star Stone Cold Steve Austin turned so "vicious" he had to undergo corrective surgery - and now has a plate in his neck.
He tells Britain's FHM magazine, "It was seven guys, kicking each other's a**, one guy tougher than the next. No joke, our stunt guys were begging for mercy.
"My fight with Stone Cold Steve Austin was so vicious that I ended up getting a hairline fracture in my neck. I'm not joking. I haven't told anyone this, but I had to have a very serious operation afterwards.
"I now have a metal plate in my neck."
Stallone stars alongside fellow tough guys Bruce Willis, Jet Li, Mickey Rourke and Jason Statham in the movie, in which a group of mercenaries attempt to overthrow a South American dictator.

The Clueless star passed away on Sunday (20Dec09) after suffering a cardiac arrest in her Hollywood home.
Roberts worked alongside the actress in 2002 independent film Spun and again in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming action movie The Expendables, and he admits he's been left stunned by Murphy's untimely death.
In a statement, Roberts says, "I would like to offer my sincere condolences, deepest sympathy and prayers to the family of Brittany Murphy. I am saddened by her passing, She was a terrific young lady and an incredible actress.
"It was a genuine pleasure to have worked with such a talented individual. Brittany will be greatly missed by her family, friends and fans. Her untimely passing is a tremendous loss for Hollywood."
Murphy's cause of death has yet to be determined.

On Friday (18Dec09), the Titanic auteur was honoured by fans and industry pals as he revealed his own star - the 2,396th - before his Aliens muse Sigourney Weaver paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker.
Cameron told reporters he was especially pleased with his spot outside the Egyptian Theatre, as his star was next to Sylvester Stallone's - who he teamed up with to write the screenplay for 1985's Rambo: First Blood Part II.
He said, "The placement is especially cool - right in front of the prestigious Egyptian Theatre, right next to Sylvester Stallone, my co-writer on Rambo: First Blood Part II.
"We're together again - apparently for all eternity now."
He paid tribute to his Avatar "family" - thanking his cast and crew for working so tirelessly on the project: "Whatever Avatar becomes, however well it does, whatever accolades it receives, the face of Avatar is these people right here. Most actors work on a film for months at the most. Some of our team worked on the film for almost a year and a half. We actually became a kind of family and we all still love each other."
The ceremony came on the same day his computer-generated saga hit cinemas across the globe - raking in $73 million (£45.6 million) in America alone on its first weekend of release.

According to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center spokeswoman Sally Stewart, Murphy died at 10:04 am local time on Sunday (20Dec09). Stewart would not provide a cause of death, or any further information.
The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a call at 8 am from a home that is believed to belong to Murphy's husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack.
Online reports suggest Murphy died after suffering a cardiac arrest at the Los Angeles home she shared with Monjack, where paramedics arrived after the actress' mother allegedly discovered her unconscious in the shower.
According to TMZ.com, Murphy could not be revived by paramedics and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The actress' publicist Nicole Perna confirms the tragedy, but has not elaborated on the circumstances surrounding Murphy's death, telling WENN, "In this time of sadness, the family thanks you for your love and support. It is their wish that you respect their privacy."
Murphy's acting career began in the 1990s with small television, commercial and film roles. Her big break came when she landed a leading role in teen hit Clueless alongside Alicia Silverstone in 1995.
She is also well known for starring in Eminem's 8 Mile and comic-book adaptation Sin City.
The late star provided the voices for several animated characters, including Luanne Platter on more than 200 episodes of U.S. TV series King of the Hill and Gloria the penguin in 2006 film Happy Feet. That same year (06), she released the single Faster Kill Pussycat, which became a dance club hit.
Murphy recently wrapped her scenes in Sylvester Stallone's upcoming film, The Expendables, set for release next year (10).
She dated Ashton Kutcher and appeared as on-screen lovers with the hunk in 2003 comedy Just Married. The pair split the same year (03). She was later briefly engaged to production assistant Joe Macaluso in 2005, before marrying Monjack in a Jewish ceremony in 2007.
The Los Angeles Coroner’s office has launched an investigation into the cause of her death, reports RadarOnline.com.

Hoping perhaps to steal a little thunder from Avatar, Paramount today released the long-awaited trailer for Iron Man 2, starring Robert Downey, Jr., Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson and Don Cheadle.
This one really needs no introduction:
Judging from the trailer, Iron Man 2's storyline seems to be modelled thematically after Rocky III (my personal favorite of the series) -- Tony Stark becomes Champion of the World, basks in the public's adulation, then gets a little too comfortable, a little too cocky, and is brought down by a tougher, hungrier adversary. In this case, Rourke plays the part of Clubber Lang, with Cheadle as Apollo Creed and Gwyneth Paltrow as Adrian.
Judge for yourself:
Methinks Sylvester Stallone might be entitled to a screenwriting credit.
Iron Man 2 opens May 7, 2010.

Directed, co-wrote, and starred in "The Expendables," a 1980s-style action adventure about a group of mercenaries who attempt to overthrow a South American dictator; film featured a Who's Who of action stars including Bruce Willis, Jet Li, and Arnold Schw

Re-teamed, starred, and scripted with original director John G. Avildsen the fifth installment "Rocky V"

Reprised the role of war hero John Rambo for the fourth time in "Rambo"; also wrote and directed

Reprised signature role in "Rocky III"; also scripted and directed

First film appearance, soft-core porn "The Party at Kitty and Stud's"

Teamed onscreen with Burt Reynolds in "Driven"; Stallone reportedly contributed to the screenplay

Wrote a biographical drama about Edgar Allen Poe; many claimed it was one of the great unproduced scripts in Hollywood

Returned as the titular boxer, wrote, and directed in "Rocky IV"

Taught children of career diplomats and young royalty at American College of Switzerland

Co-starred in the John Huston directed "Escape to Victory"

Moved to Philadelphia with mother and stepfather

Opened Planet Hollywood Restaurant in New York; co-owned with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Bruce Willis

First played character of John Rambo in "First Blood"

Returned to the United States

Reportedly agreed to a multi-picture deal with Universal Pictures that paid at least $60 million for three films

Starred opposite Dolly Parton in "Rhinestone"

Moved to New York City

Wrote, directed, and reprised role in the critical and commercial hit "Rocky Balboa," the sixth and final installment of his successful series

Again reprised other signature role in "Rambo III"; also scripted

Delivered a change of pace turn as a partially deaf New Jersey sheriff in "Cop Land"

Collaborated on first film with Renny Harlin, "Cliffhanger"; also rewrote script

Lent his name and image to the start-up publication Sly, focusing on health and fitness

Made directorial debut and wrote "Paradise Alley"; later turned screenplay into a novel

Made screenwriting debut and starred in the boxing drama "Rocky"; earned Oscar nominations as Best Actor and for Best Original Screenplay

Entered mainstream film with an uncredited appearance as a mugger in Woody Allen's "Bananas"

Starred in the title role of the sci-fi actioner "Judge Dredd"

First feature as a producer, "Staying Alive"; also directed and contributed to screenplay

Moved to Los Angeles, CA

Provided the voice for Weaver, the soldier ant buddy of Woody Allen's in the animated feature "Antz"

First executive producer credit for TV-movie, "Heart of a Champion: The Ray Mancini Story"

Penned early drafts of what became "Rocky"

Reprised role, wrote, and directed the sequel "Rocky II"

Summary

One of the biggest box office draws in the world from the 1970s through the early 1990s, actor-writer-director-producer Sylvester Stallone combined sheer physical brawn with a touch of vulnerability in two major movie franchises - the Academy Award-winning "Rocky" (1976) and its five sequels, as well as the jingoistic, ultra-violent "Rambo" (1981) quartet. Frequently reviled by critics and pundits for his acting and movie choices, Stallone persevered through several major career eclipses, only to come back - much like Rocky Balboa - time and time again as the pop cultural icon that he most definitely was. Regardless of how the critics felt, Stallone was a major box office force, though he struggled outside the Rocky-Rambo universe with "Cliffhanger" (1993) and "Judge Dredd" (1995). He earned critical respect when he gained weight to play a good-hearted, but ostracized cop turning a blind eye to police corruption in "Cop Land" (1997), but the box office failure of that film prompted him to second-guess his choice of tackling more dramatic material. After starring in the remake of "Get Carter" (2000) and the action thriller "Driven" (2001), Stallone stepped back from acting to focus behind the scenes on his health/fitness magazine, as well as the sports-themed reality series, "The Contender" (NBC/ESPN/Versus, 2005-07). But unable to stay out of the spotlight for long, he struck box office gold revisiting "Rocky Balboa" (2006) and "Rambo" (2008), and starring in the ensemble action hit "The Expendables" (2010), which once again put Stallone back on top.

Born May 5, 1976; mother, Sasha Stallone; made film debut in "Rocky V" (1990) and appeared with his father in the 1996 disaster movie "Daylight"; co-founded Grindhouse Releasing in 1996; directed his first short film which screened at the 2006 Palm Springs Film Festival; Died July 13, 2012

Education

Born in a NYC charity ward, forceps delivery severed a nerve in Stallone's face, paralyzing one side of his lip, chin, and tongue so that he grew up with a lopsided appearance and indistinct speech.

"My father was so tough his balls clanged when he walked. He's a primitive who learned to play polo when he was stationed as a guard on the Mexican border during World War II. If I draw on anything for the character of Rambo – the physical attributes, the capacity to conjure up the physical frenzy – it would be my father. My mother is the master of the outrageous. I draw heavily on her. It's her part of my psyche that keeps me fiercely insane." – Stallone to Vanity Fair, September 1990

On his bad luck with marriage following his highly publicized second divorce, Stallone told Vanity Fair (September 1990): "If anybody should have become an alcoholic or a drug addict or a dyed-in-the-wool misogynist, it's me. I've had every opportunity to cop out. I've been publicly humiliated. The way I was dissected worldwide and held up to ridicule. I've never read about a divorce that has as much sexual innuendo as mine did with Brigitte.

About his tumultuous upbringing, Stallone confessed to the Los Angeles Times (Oct. 28, 1990): "It was a house full of aggression and conflict. When she [his mother] left, I hung onto her leg. I was in convulsions. Then the terrible court battles began. My brother became so repressed that they thought he had leukemia. I really became a loose cannon. I ran away to Philadelphia to be with her. The courts brought me back. I had an unformed ego, a misplaced aggression. I sought chaos. I was like a dog wanting to be beaten. Acting was almost a psychological requirement for me."

Stallone received special achievement award from the National Italian American Foundation in 1991.

He was named as an Officer of the French Order of Arts and Letters in 1992.

"I gave into temptation to prove myself in another arena. I've learned the hard way about comedy. Marlon Brando had the same problem if you look back." – Stallone to People magazine, June 7, 1993

"Just 'cause society says I'm old doesn't mean I am. Sure, I made wrong turns in my life, but I want one more shot to go out on my terms." – Stallone to Premiere magazine, December 2006

In February 2007, Stallone was charged with bringing vials of restricted muscle-building hormones into Australia.He pleaded guilty a few months later in May 2007.

"I'd like to use a line from one of the movies. Like, 'It's not how hard you hit, it's how hard you can get hit that makes all the difference in your life.' Or 'It's how much you can take, and how much you can give.' I really feel the survivors are the ones with the good jaws. Not everyone has a punch, but if you can keep taking it, quite often you can prevail." – Stallone on what will be on his tombstone, GQ, September 2010